About Lightning

Lightning is a full-service landscape contractor with two locations serving both the Kansas City and Lake of the Ozarks areas.

After working in the lawn care industry for more than a decade, Chris Edin formed Lightning Landscape & Irrigation in 1994 with the belief that there was a better way. Attention to detail, customer service, and dedication have fueled our growth.

In 1999 our growth led to a new 5000 square foot facility constructed in Shawnee, Kansas. In 2004 a Gravois Mills, Missouri location was opened to serve customers’ needs around the Lake of the Ozarks.

Our team has a wide variety of experience to handle all aspects of your landscape and lawn requirements. From initial design to installation, irrigation, and maintenance we can handle it all. Over the years, Lightning has worked with numerous plant materials, processes, and products and we attempt to utilize only what has been proven to work in your yard and landscape. This allows us to ensure your landscape and lawn will be healthy and beautiful now and in years to come.

Who We Are

Lightning is a team effort that involves all of our fine employees!

Chris Edin – Owner/President

It all started when Chris was a young boy working in the yard. His love of the outdoors and passion for making things beautiful steered him toward a position with a local landscape contractor at the ripe old age of eighteen. After twelve years of learning and growing in the industry, he struck out on his own. Chris is a Certified Pesticide Applicator in both Kansas and Missouri, Certified Backflow repair/tester, and a Member of Magic Council and Kansas Turfgrass Foundation. He has more than twenty five years of experience in the Green Industry.

Marla Edin - Owner/Vice President

Marla has been actively involved in Lightning operations since 2003. After surviving 14 years in the corporate world Marla brings enthusiasm, drive, and energy to our daily operations. She serves as Office Manager for our Lake of the Ozarks branch. Marla also coordinates training, corporate communication, and marketing for both locations.

Nick Edin - Executive Vice President

Nick has been actively involved in Lightning since he was old enough to lift a leaf blower. Rather that have a babysitter during the summer, he was brought to work with Chris and introduced to the world of a landscape contractor at an early age. Nick has worked in all departments as he has matured. After attending the University of Kansas, he began working in a sales capacity with us full time. He brings a fresh outlook and enthusiasm to our Lightning team.

Charles Jobe – Account Manager

Charlie started with Lightning in 1996 and was promoted to manager in 2006. Charlie has a proven track record of Green Industry experience, customer service, supervision, and problem solving. He has extensive experience with all aspects of the landscape industry. Charlie’s loyalty and dedication to both Lightning and our customers is extremely rare these days, which makes us so lucky to have him on our team.

Jason Brooks - Irrigation Manager

Jason joined us in the fall of 2008 and we are very excited to have him. Jason has been installing and servicing sprinkler systems in the Kansas City area for 12 years. Throughout his many years in the field there isn't a lot he hasn't seen. Jason prides himself on customer service and satisfaction. Whatever your irrigation needs, a complete new system, an add on, or repairs on your existing, Jason & crew will get the job done right the first time.

Jim Schlagel - Landscape Design/Sales

After several years of working in the landscape architecture/planning field, Jim comes to Lightning with a plethora of knowledge and experience in landscape construction and horticultural practices. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture and brings a fresh new approach. Not only does he design a plan that is functional, but one that will make your neighbors envious.

Christina “CJ” Dukes - Residential/Commercial Maintenance Manager

CJ has been with Lightning Landscape & Irrigation for over 5 years in the residential maintenance department. She has been recently promoted to the division manager, which now includes our commercial customers as well. She has been in the landscape industry for over 16 years working for some of the most elite residential and commercial accounts in the Kansas City area. Her exceptional knowledge of plants and horticultural practices, along with her outstanding focus on our customers, will successfully lead our residential maintenance department into the future.

Mike Auten - Turf Maintenance

Mike has been with Lightning since 2004, and he is responsible for mowing and turf maintenance. Mike is hardworking and enthusiastic. His customer service is unsurpassed and he enjoys making your lawn beautiful. His attention to detail makes him an outstanding asset to Lightning.

Ramsey Mansour - Lawncare Specialist

In 2008, Ramsey joined the Lightning team. He has worked in several different areas of our company, but has recently found a home in our Lawncare division. He is dedicated to making your lawn and shrubbery the best it can be. His willingness to go the extra mile for our customers is evident in everything he does.

Megan Ostrander - Office Manager

Megan joined Lightning in 2011. She brings with her eight years of accounting experience, and two years in management and development. She has a very forward thinking attitude and loves finding new techniques to make things more efficient. No challenge is too big for Megan, as she is committed to find innovative solutions to make our company better every day. We are happy she joined our team!